Luminous sign



' vMay 2, 1939. v P, STOBBE 2,156,409

LUMINOUS SIGN Filed Feb. '21, 41%8 Fill-1 l PIE-w- El..

INVENTUR PPIUL E DEEE- E? l PITTRNEHJE.

Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED vs'rlx'rlszs 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in luminous signs, and hasparticular reference to a luminous number wherein a paint, such as theso called radium paint, is employed so that 5 the number will be broughtinto bold relief and can be readily seen at a considerable distance.

An additional object of the invention is to produce a construction,whereby the number will be air tight and at the Sametime most economicalto manufacture, simple in construction and highly durable.

A further object of the invention is to nickel plate the base of thenumber and the sides thereof, so that the nickel plated surfaces willreflect the light of the illuminating paint over the whole number, andthereby reduce to a minimum the amountfof paint that is ordinarilyrequired.

'Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig, 1 is a front view of the preferred form of the invention, with aportion of the number being broken away to disclose the interiorconstruction;

Fig; 2 is a front view of the modified form of.

the invention;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

It is most important in the use of luminous signs, markers and numbersthat the said 'signs may be readily visible from a considerableydistance, and to accomplish this object, I propose in the preferredform of theinvention to employ a V-shaped formation in the base of thenumber, which V is coated with a luminous material, such as a compoundof radium, so that pedestrians or passers-by, even when approaching thenumber at an angle, will obtain al'clear view of the same.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustrationisshown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designatesthe base of a numeral, as for instance the numeral I, which base ispreferably made of brass, and is of a substantially semi-circular crosssection except for the formation of a V, as indicated by the numeral 6in said base. This V provides two angular sides." and ,-8, that arecoated with the luminous paint. The base is likewise equipped withflanges 9 and I0 that are folded back, so as to receive therein themarginal edge of a glass ll, which glass is preferably of a magnifyingtype.

By virtue of` the construction employed, it.

(Ci. lill-1341) will be obvious that the number will be rendered airtight and waterproof, so that danger of contact by the outside elementswith the luminous paint will be practically eliminated.

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated to advantage a 5 modied form of theinvention, in which the base member l2 is of concave form and is highlypolished preferably by nickel plating, so that a high degree of areecting area will be realized. The numeral I3 designates a concavemagnifying glass, that is adhesively secured to the base I2. In thisparticular form of the invention the luminous paint is eliminated.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing it will be obvious that I have devised a luminousnumber that is unique in construction, and one which will readilyaccomplish all of the objects above set forth.

while 1 have specified the use of the invention 20 as preferably fornumbers, it is obvious that the same principle can be applied toadvertising signs, name'plates, store signs, and illuminated numbers andletters generally.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of. the same and thatvarious changes relative to'the material, size, shape and arrangement ofparts may b e resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

, Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A luminous street number comprising'a frame substantiallysemi-circular in cross section and having its medial portion V-shaped,the medial portion thereof being coated with a radio active paint andthe concave inner'faces of said frame being highly polished, and a lensmounted in said frame and embodying an inner flat 40 face section and anouter convex portion and having its inner at face positioned in closeproximity to said V-shaped section of the frame.

2. A luminous street number comprising a frame substantiallysemi-circular in cross section and having grooves formed in its marginaledges,

a V-shaped inbent section formed in its medial portion and having itsconcave inner faces highly polished, said V-shaped section having itssides coated with a radio active paint, anda lens mounted inthe marginalgrooves of the frame and embodying a flat inner face and a convex outerface, the inner flat face thereof being positioned in close proximity tothe apex of the V-shaped inbent section of said frame, whereby lightrays are reflected radially through the lens from the luminous sides ofsaid V-shaped section.

' PAUL STOBBE.-

